Top 10 Managers

The following managers contained in this blog are, who I think, the best managers in the world. They are not ranked in any particular order.

Carlo Ancelotti

Whoever says great players don't make great managers is lying. Carlo Ancelotti has won the league in France, Italy and England during his career and is art of a unique club of players that have won the Champions League as a player and a manager. He will be most known for his success at AC Milan from 2001-2009.  During his 8 years at the Milan club, Ancelotti won 8 trophies, most notably a 2007 Champions League victory over Liverpool. Now at Real Madrid, I expect him to be able to knock rivals Barcelona off their perch and reclaim the number 1 spot of Barcelona in the long run. A man that always instructs his team to play attacking football and forbids his team to take the foot off the gas deserves to be named in my top 10 managers.

Jose Mourinho

No top 10 managers list is complete without the self-proclaimed 'Special One'. Jose Mourinho's record speaks for itself. Arguably one of the most influencial managers in history, Mourinho has notched up no less than 20 titles and countless individual honours throughout his career. His finest hour would likely be the treble winning year of 2009/2010 at Inter Milan. At only 51 years of age, the man from Setubal is expected to gather even more titles. Personally, I will admit that he is one of the best managers in the world, even though I have a low opinion of him. Already, I would expect Mourinho to have his eyes on accumulating numerous trophies, in an attempt to surpass Sir Alex. 

                         

       

Jurgen Klopp

Nobody can forget the anger vented at the officials by Dortmund manager, Jurgen Klopp in a 2-1 defeat to Napoli, and the leaps and bounds he has brought the North Rhine side is incredible. He guided Dortmund to their first Bundesliga title in 9 years back during the 2010/2011 and followed that up with a league double the following season. Always instructing his team to play fast flowing, attractive football, Klopp has been a giant of the managing world over the past year, and deserves to be on my list as hopes to string together a run of good results in order to challenge Leverkusen for the second place.

       

Rudi Garcia

If anyone reading this post is a Serie A lover, then you will know why he is on this list. Out of nowhere, he has announced himself on managerial scene with aplomb by sending Roma to a 17 match unbeaten run. The Giallorossi have found themselves a surprise package this year lying in a respectable 2nd position behind Juventus. As for Garcia, his managerial success began at French club Lille when he claimed the domestic double in the 2010/2011 season as well as bagging the French Manager of the Year Award in 2011 and 2013. He has remodelled a team from the brink of turmoil to one challenging Juve for the Serie A title.

      

Diego Simeone

A highly decorated player and also a highly decorated manager. Renowned for his time in Atletico Madrid, he has delivered a myriad of trophies to a club that has been living in the shadow of their Real neighbours. A manager who utilizes his wingers to great effect, finds himself touted as the manager for the Argentinian National team. I rate Simeone exceedingly highly, as, although he doesn't have the finances or manpower as Barcelona or Real Madrid, he is adding another team to the short list of contenders for the Liga BBVA title.

       

Antonio Conte

A fantastic player and now a fantastic manager. At the age of 44, Antonio Conte is trying to replicate his illustrious playing career in the dugout as a manager. Currently working with the best team in Italy, Juventus, he has guided the 'Old Lady' to the last 2 Serie A titles and is on course to record a 3rd consecutive one. He has created a formidable Juventus side, using talented players Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba to name a few, that has every possibility of mimicking the days when the Old Lady was Champions of Europe. Juve through and through, the Italian is heading for a long time managing the Italian giants.

        

Louis Van Gaal

Having been educated in possibly the best traditions of the 'Total Football' by Ajax and the Netherlands in the 70s, it is to no surprise that he is a fanatical advocate of the fast, free-flowing football that we all love to watch. While being generally labelled a slow starter, he managed the all-conquering Ajax team of the early 90s. Often described as blunt towards the press, the Dutchman deserves recognition on my list of top 10 managers due to the numerous titles he has won at Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich. Currently in hi second spell as manager of the Netherlands, Van Gaal will be hoping for a better run in the World Cup compared to Euro 2012 and their failure to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

       

Arsene Wenger

A terrific servant to Arsenal FC, Arsene Wenger is the longest manager in charge of a club, currently in the Premier League. During his 17 years at Arsenal, he has amassed 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and 4 Community Shields. Although regularly overlooked, he holds a Ligue One title and One Coupe de France trophy from his time at Monaco. Over the past few years, I feel his has been wrongly on the end of abuse from Arsenal fans at the lack of money spent. Even when he has not been spending money, the Gunners always find themselves in the Champions League positions, come the end of the season. Famed for his advocating of youth, Wenger now possesses a strong Arsenal team poised to challenge for the title.

       

Luis Felipe Scolari

While Luiz Felipe Scolari may not be on most people's top 10 managers list but he is definitely on mine. Famous for his short fuse and tantrums on the sideline, the 65 year old has managed a list of clubs and nations the length of my arm. 'Big Phil' has enjoyed success all over the world most notably, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Brazil. Internationally, Scolari has enjoyed an array of success - and upsets. In 2002, he led a team with characters such as Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos, to a World Cup, before enduring the shock of the century with Portugal, losing in the Euro 2004 final to Greece. At a club level, Scolari has won the Copa do Brasil on numerous occasions and also the Brazilian equivalent to the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores.

      

Fabio Capello

A manager that is almost forgotten about on Top 10s, is the Russian National team manager, Fabio Capello. A proven player and manager, Capello holds a trophy cabinet that most fans would die for. Managing no less than 5 clubs, the 67 year old has won numerous Serie A titles, La Liga titles, Supercoppa Italiana and the prized UEFA Champions League with AC Milan. In addition to this, he won the Serie A Coach of the Year in 2005 and BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year award in 2009.

Those are my opinions on the best managers in the world currently. Another manager that gets a glowing report from myself is fellow Ulsterman Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers honed his skills under the wing of Jose Mourinho and will no doubt feature on this list eventually, if he has a long, distinguished career on Merseyside.